Debbie Blank
Will golf carts be a common sight on Oldenburg streets in coming months? All sorts of vehicles were debated at the Aug. 4 council meeting.
“There are a lot of people in town that would like to legalize golf carts,” which would be more economical to operate than larger vehicles with the high cost of gas, said Dan Weigel. Two other advantages: “They're quiet” and carts would “make it easy to run to the store.”
Although it seems like a novel idea, carts are legal in nine Indiana towns, according to Weigel, and three more are talking about it. In Fairfield County, Ohio, police use golf carts to patrol the streets, he added.
After reading guidelines from other towns, Weigel reported, “You have to be a licensed driver,” which would rule out kids operating the carts. They would have to be equipped like streetworthy vehicles, with turn signals, lights and seat belts. “Some have slow moving vehicle signs.”
Council member Dennis Moeller said, “Most golf carts don't have all those gizmos.” Weigel replied, “Some do, some don't.” They could be modified, he pointed out.
Tom Baumer asked if insurance would be mandatory.
One town’s ordinance required a $10 inspection fee and $15 registration fee. The local police, not the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, performed the inspections, distributed stickers and kept the fees.
Town attorney Tom O’Connor wondered if Hoosier golf cart ordinances have been tested in court.
Moeller asked, “Do any of these towns have a state highway running through them?” Weigel answered yes. Some ordinances allowed carts to cross state highways, but not travel on them.
Moeller questioned, “How fast do they go? If I get behind you and I'm in a hurry ...” According to Weigel, one ordinance stated carts couldn't be driven on roads with speed limits above 35 miles per hour.
Moeller acknowledged, “It's worth looking into.” If town leaders decide to allow golf carts, “we'd be on the cutting edge.”
When Marshal Scott Barnhorst learned of the proposal, he observed Aug. 6, “That’s a good thing .... I don’t have an issue with that.”
“We would have to take a good, strong look at it so we can do it right,” advised O’Connor. He suggested a special committee conduct a meeting just on that topic. “You're going to have to have a way to enforce it.”
“I'll be honest with you. As the use of electric cars (increases)... you are going to have to address that in some way. I think our best bet is to have me ... call Portland (which had rules Weigel favored) and get a copy of that town's ordinance,” then research the issue.
Switching topics, Bret Dulin said, “I need to know the rules and regulations on quads, motorcycles, lawn mowers and farm equipment” on town streets. “Are they legal? What are we going to do about these kids that are riding double on scooters? Some don't have helmets.”
He recalled, “I got in trouble riding down to Obermeyer’s (on a quad) to get a gallon of gas for a motorcycle.” Dulin said that to be fair, “these little motorcycles riding around town have to be taken off" if quads aren't allowed.
The Main Street resident said he can hear the smaller vehicles “squawking down the road” at 3 a.m. “It's waking me up. I'm getting pretty upset.”
A Franklin County ordinance states four-wheelers are not allowed on county roads or city streets, Barnhorst said. “There have to be exceptions.” He makes them if the vehicle is used to better the town, such as delivering water to floats during the fire fest parade, raking a baseball diamond, moving Freudenfest supplies or shoveling snow from a street or drive. “They can’t be a nuisance flying down the streets.”
He added, “If someone’s mowing lawns for money and they have to go from one lawn to the next, as long as they’re off to the side of the road, I don’t see that as an issue.” Travel on State Road 229 should be avoided if possible.
A two- or three-wheeled moped or motorized bicycle must have less than a 2-horsepower engine and cylinder capacity less than 50 cubic centimeters and travel at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour, said Batesville Lt. Gandy Browning, referring to Indiana Code 9-13-2-109.
A moped operator must be at least 15 and possess an Indiana identification card or driver’s license. No motorcycle or driver’s license is required. Moped riders under 18 are required to wear helmets and eye protection (safety goggles or transparent face shield).
Debbie Blank can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 113; or debbie.blank@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com.
